Tahini, a thick paste made of ground sesame seeds, may be purchased in the specialty section of some grocery stores, in Middle Eastern markets, or in health food stores.

Ingredients

Pita toasts:

12-- pita bread rounds

-- Nonstick olive oil cooking spray

-- Garlic salt to taste

Black bean hummus:

2-- (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

3/4cup tahini

1/4cup fresh lemon juice

1/4cup packed chopped fresh cilantro

4-- green onions, sliced

2tablespoons olive oil

2large garlic cloves, minced

1teaspoon cumin

1/2teaspoon cayenne pepper

-- Salt and black pepper to taste

sprig cilantro for garnish

8ounces carrots, cut into sticks

2medium cucumbers, sliced

Instructions

For the toasts:

Split the pita rounds into halves and cut each half into triangles. Arrange the triangles in a single layer on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick olive oil cooking spray. Sprinkle with garlic salt and bake at 400 degrees for 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp.

Spoon the humus into a bowl. Chop the reserved beans by hand and sprinkle over the top. Garnish with a sprig of cilantro. Serve with the pita toasts, carrot sticks and cucumber slices.

Recipe reprinted with permission from the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Inc., River Road Recipes IV: Warm Welcomes, Entertaining Menus from Our Homes to Yours (the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Inc., 2004)